King overtakes Carroll to become season 8 "Challenge!" quiz show champions

Michael Zamora/Caller-Times
Host Eric Boyd asks the Carroll team a question during the taping of the championship of the KEDT-TV quiz show “Challenge!”

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

CORPUS CHRISTI - After breaking away from Carroll, King took a triple-digit lead to become KEDT-TV's eighth "Challenge!" quiz show champions.

The show, which was taped in February, aired Thursday.

"It's a bittersweet feeling," said John Rafael, a graduating King senior and returning team member. "Being under the spotlight and answering those questions and doing your best is one of best things I've done in my life."

King ended the first round with a 30-point lead before Carroll slid past by 10 points in the second round. Carroll fell behind after picking geography for its second lightning round. King gained a huge lead during its literature lightning round. The final score was 375-230.

With questions that are just as likely to be about Jane Austen as Led Zeppelin, King students said the key to "Challenge!" is having a well-rounded team. Members learned to balance each other's strengths and weaknesses, they said.

"Most of the questions are things that I'm embarrassed I know," said King junior Danielle Edmonds, who was the team's expert on Destiny's Child.

Carroll team members said as the youngest group in the bracket, they never thought they would find themselves so close to winning the title. The team had no seniors and one returning member.

"For lack of a better word, we were surprised when we got to the finals," sophomore Muhammad Patel said. "But we've pulled together, and we've grown together."

However, they said they gained confidence as they beat challenger after challenger. Carroll dethroned two-time champion John Paul II High School during the semifinals to earn a spot in the final round. All six Tigers team members plan to return for next year's competition.

"I'm very proud of the team," Carroll junior Shih-Ming Wang said. "Hopefully we can replicate this season and win the final game next year." King team members each received $1,000 scholarships to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi; Carroll students will get $500 awards to the university. KEDT-TV matched last year's total by giving out $28,000 in scholarships this season.

King senior Katie Jeffress said what she will remember most is hanging out with her team at Pizza State after each contest.